Statement on Senate Confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner as CMS Administrator

PRESS RELEASE

May 16, 2013 (Arlington, Va.) - NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s 91-7 vote on Wednesday, May 15, to confirm Marilyn Tavenner as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

“Often, much is said about a nominee’s qualifications for a leadership position such as the Administrator of CMS. Marilyn Tavenner absolutely brings exceptional qualifications. And I go further to say that her life story is a testament to the genuine care and dedication to patients that must drive the improvement of healthcare delivery in the United States.

“As a nurse, as a CEO, as Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, and in heading CMS in an ‘acting’ capacity, Marilyn Tavenner has distinguished herself as a true servant leader, on issues for which nothing less than true servant leadership will suffice. Her Senate confirmation vote is a tribute to her impeccable reputation, as well as to the bipartisan approach of U.S. Senate members in evaluating and advancing her nomination.

“Community pharmacies, which serve as the face of neighborhood healthcare, look forward to working with Marilyn Tavenner and her colleagues at CMS to help improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare. Given her background on the front lines of healthcare delivery, we trust that she will look for opportunities to leverage the strengths of community pharmacies in helping patients use medicines safely and stay healthy, and to tap into the innovative pharmacy services that do even more to improve patient health and quality of life. Widely trusted and accessible, pharmacists are extremely valued by those in greatest need, and we look forward to working with her to leverage the true power of pharmacy services for the good of all Americans.”